'Smallville' Star Gets 1 Year in Prison for Dealing Drugs

Actor Sam Jones III is heading to the slammer for his involvement in an oxycodone drug ring

Sometimes, having a "Hollywood Connection" isn't always a good thing.

Actor Sam Jones III, who starred in the TV show Smallville, found that out the hard way Wednesday when he was sentenced to one year in prison for conspiring to sell more than 10,000 doses of oxycodone, a painkiller known on the streets as "hillbilly heroin."

Jones, 28, who played Clark Kent's best friend Pete Ross on the first three seasons of Smallville, also must serve three years of supervised probation after he's released from a federal lockup, according to Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The sentence follows his 2009 arrest during a raid at his Canoga, Calif., home by DEA agents looking to stop a drug ring trading in the illegal purchase and distribution of OxyContin, the brand name for oxycodone, which apparently got its moniker "Hillbilly Heroin" because of its widespread abuse in Appalachia states such as Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia.

Prosecutors said Jones was a co-conspirator in the scheme, dubbed the "Hollywood Connection," and he was found guilty of the crime last December. He faced up to six years in prison.

After the sentencing, Jones twittered, "Just got out of court! God is Great!! #FAITH!!!" It seems he's looking on the bright side and is pleased to have gotten only one year behind bars instead of six.

He remains free on bond until he surrenders to authorities to begin serving his sentence.

But his jail sentence isn't the only thing affecting Jones, who also has appeared on episodes of The Defenders, Blue Mountain State, ER and Army Wives. Last week, his ex-girlfriend, Playboy model Karissa Shannon (one-half of the 21-year-old Shannon twins), moved out of his home and into the Playboy Mansion to be with Hugh Hefner, according to E! Online.